#16871
Mentioned in 2 episodes
Freedom Evolves
Book • 2004
In 'Freedom Evolves', Daniel C. Dennett tackles the question of whether humans truly have free will.
He argues that free will is not an eternal, unchanging condition but rather an evolved aspect of human existence, shaped by natural selection and cultural memes.
Dennett explains that determinism does not preclude free will; instead, he posits that human freedom is a gradual and context-dependent phenomenon.
He uses various analogies and scientific models to illustrate how rational agents can develop 'evitability' within deterministic systems, and how this leads to the emergence of consciousness, morality, and altruism.
The book defends the compatibility of contemporary science with traditional visions of freedom and morality, emphasizing that human freedom is an objective phenomenon distinct from other biological conditions.
He argues that free will is not an eternal, unchanging condition but rather an evolved aspect of human existence, shaped by natural selection and cultural memes.
Dennett explains that determinism does not preclude free will; instead, he posits that human freedom is a gradual and context-dependent phenomenon.
He uses various analogies and scientific models to illustrate how rational agents can develop 'evitability' within deterministic systems, and how this leads to the emergence of consciousness, morality, and altruism.
The book defends the compatibility of contemporary science with traditional visions of freedom and morality, emphasizing that human freedom is an objective phenomenon distinct from other biological conditions.
